5 Tips to Have a Stress-Free Back to School Routine

5 Tips to Have a Stress-Free Back to School Routine

School bells are buzzing all around the country and families everywhere are getting everything organized to ensure that their kids have a smooth transition from summertime to school time. We all know how crazy the back to school routine can get, so here we have prepared a few tips to help you to develop habits to improve your day-to-day responsibilities.

 

Create a Morning Routine Schedule

Your family’s back to school morning routine will determine the rest of the day. How to improve your morning to be a productive and pain-free time of day?

–      Define a morning routine schedule with set times and who is responsible for what daily

–      Prepare at night for the next morning: lunch bags, clothes, backpacks, breakfast – anything that can be prepared the night before is one less thing to do during the morning rush.

 

Plan the Lunch Bags

Think “out of the lunch box” and have your lunches ideas prepared ahead. You can try:

–      Come up your lunch box plan the weekend before. Find great fresh lunch ideas here: momables.com

–      Leave the kitchen clean and organized – you will need a lot of space to set out breakfast while packing the lunches and watching the kids.

 

Create Strategic Places

Sometimes it can be challenging to keep children organized. This is where establishing specific places where everything belongs in your home plays an essential role in your back to school routine.

You can create a homework station, for example, and also some designated spaces to backpacks, papers, projects, forms that need to be signed, etc.

Multifunctional bedroom and workspace interior with bed and desk

 

Define a Bedtime

Bedtime is a significant part of the school routine. According to the National Sleep Foundation babies, children and teens need significantly more sleep than adults, as we can see in the table below:

Talk to your children about the importance of having a good night of sleep and try to create a comforting schedule for them that allows plenty of time for each step so they don’t feel rushed. Add storytime to create a moment of togetherness. Bedtime is one of the most challenging times for all families, don’t let perfect be the enemy of good and continue to work on it.

 

Your Ideal Home

As a real estate company, we can come up with lots of ideas about your ideal home, but only one is really essential when you have a school-age child: live as close as possible to your kids’ school.

A home that’s walking distance from your children’s school is a dream, especially for working parents. You can quickly drop off the kids on your way to the office, without having to worry as much about traffic or worry that you’ll be late to your important meeting at work.

Investing in a new home also means investing in a new community, and our team of expert real estate agents can introduce you to everything about the neighborhood you’ll potentially live-in – partner with an agent and find your dream home today.

Start by searching our listings here at www.macrealty.com – you can also explore the home details – as the example below, the general information, ask the agent to schedule a showing, save to your favourite list of homes, and more.

 

6 Warm and Inviting Rooms You’ll Never Want to Leave

6 Warm and Inviting Rooms You’ll Never Want to Leave

With so many wonderful homes listed by Macdonald Realty, it was difficult to choose a few to feature.

Let’s get inspired by these six sophisticated and inviting rooms we’ll never want to leave.

Bright & Blue Kitchen

Here is a clean & bright kitchen. The happy blue color invites us to stay here forever. The custom wood cabinetry is classic and we love the way it adds charm and sophistication to this fantastic space.

Listed by Sean Stevens Personal Real Estate Corporation – Price $1,799,000 – Macdonald Realty / MLS® R2389170

 

Living Room with a Charm

If there’s anything that can make us stop mid-scroll on Instagram or Facebook, it’s a well-designed living room with a touch of blue! There’re so many great little details here, like the blue cushions that don’t compete with the rest of the decor and this amazing fireplace. It is all clean, and the natural light brings this feeling of a cozy home.

Listed by James McKenny – Price $739,000 – Macdonald Realty / MLS® R2397788

 

A Palette of Wood & Greys

We love when the color palette of a house works so seamlessly through the entire space. This combination of greys and wood tones gives this space a very warm look! The natural light coming through the window boosts all the tones and textures of the fabric and wood grain. The dining table is also gorgeous and these dark modern chairs bring a touch of classic decor to a contemporary space.

Listed by Richie Huang Personal Real Estate Corporation & Lucia Wang Personal Real Estate Corporation & Jerry Y. Wang Personal Real Estate Corporation – Macdonald Realty / MLS® R2398149

 

Office & Accessories

All the clean colours work very nicely with the white desk! We love the super soft rug draped across the chair. Accessories can make a big difference and can give a home character and personality. The bright floor and pale grey walls could give to this space an almost clinical look; however, everything in this room is perfect. So clean, so natural, so ready to work!

Listed by Julie PhoenixMacdonald Realty / MLS® R2365716

 

Open Plan Kitchen & Living Room

This kitchen looks so luxurious with the white lower cupboards and the custom countertop. The living room is also stunning – it looks straight out of a home magazine. Unique!

Listed by Emily SandhackMacdonald Realty / MLS® R2391231

 

Gorgeous Bathroom

The neutral floors and walls really stand out! It’s simple and sophisticated at the same time. This beautiful bathroom has an open feel of a contemporary space. The bathtub adds charm to the everyday routine, with its minimalist yet functional style.

Listed by Lynn Johnson & Vita Kalns Personal Real Estate Corporation & Bruce WarnerMacdonald Realty / MLS® R2390880

 

Want to see more? Search listings on macrealty.com and find more homes today to inspire you. Partner with one of our agents!

7 Top Vancouver Waterfront View Properties Currently Listed by Macdonald Realty

7 Top Vancouver Waterfront View Properties Currently Listed by Macdonald Realty

Enjoy some of the best views around the city with these fantastic waterfront properties currently listed by Macdonald Realty.

#2601- 277 Thurlow Street, Vancouver, BC
Listed by Juliana Jiao Personal Real Estate Corporation

Imagine living with one of the world’s most majestic waterfront views of the ocean, mountains, Stanley Park, the Lions Gate Bridge, Coal Harbour Marina & Park, plus a 360-degree city view. Amazing terraces covering 688 square feet with two fireplaces.

Best waterfront view properties currently listed by Macdonald Realty

Price: $38,888,000  / Click here to see this listing

#1102 – 1139 W Cordova Street, Vancouver, BC
Listed by Lucie Ingoldby

Sensational waterfront home at Two Harbour Green. This 2400 square feet home with unobstructed views of the ocean, Stanley Park and Harbour Green Park plus the North Shore mountains has a great entertainment size family room with direct access to the wrap-around balcony.

Price: $7,390,000 / Click here to see this listing

2707 Point Grey Road, Vancouver, BC
Listed by Manyee Lui

Everlasting views on the prestigious Point Grey Road. With its waterfront location, this property captures the best of water, mountain and city. Enjoy the rooftop decks and incredible family living spaces.

Price: $17,800,000 / Click here to see this listing

#2101 – 1077 W Cordova Street, Vancouver, BC
Listed by Joseph Chiang

Amazing views of Coal Harbour, mountains and city from all windows. This open layout features an entertainment-size living room, fabulous gourmet chef’s kitchen and more. Relax in the spacious master bedroom with a spa only for you.

Ocean View - Best waterfront view properties currently listed by Macdonald Realty

Price: $4,488,000 / Click here to see this listing

#1605 – 1328 Marinaside Crescent, Vancouver, BC
Listed by Murphy Costello Personal Real Estate Corporation and Jodi Norrison

180-degree views to the South, East & North of False Creek, Science World and the city. Floor to ceiling windows, elegant interior floor plan, updated kitchen, and hardwood flooring. Everything with fabulous resort-level amenities.

Price: $2,998,000 / Click here to see this listing

1418 Haywood Avenue, Vancouver, BC
Listed by Jennie Frizzo Personal Real Estate Corporation

Situated on south-facing back gardens and beautiful views of Stanley Park, the city, and ocean and well designed with modern, open-concept and 20’ ceilings in the living room in a beautiful and functional floor plan.

Price: $5,888,000 / Click here to see this listing

#5604 – 1128 W Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC
Listed by Frank Ye Personal Real Estate Corporation

Incredible views of English Bay and the Gulf Islands. This Shangri-La 5-star home has updated Italian closets, entertainment center, and multiple amenities.

Price: $5,780,000 / Click here to see this listing

In the market for a new ocean view? Search listings on our website www.macrealty.com and find your dream home today. Partner with one of our real estate agents.

MoneySense names top 5 Victoria neighbourhoods to buy real estate

MoneySense names top 5 Victoria neighbourhoods to buy real estate

No. 1 wins for scenic views and proximity to downtown.

moneysensevictoriaIn April 2017 MoneySense.ca  selected their top Victoria neighbourhoods to buy real estate.

By the end of last year, the benchmark price had grown almost 24% for a single-family home in the Victoria area. According to Victoria’s Real Estate Board, this spike in sales price is due, in part, to dwindling listings. Listings were down 41%, when compared to 2015, even as the number of sales last year broke new records for this west coast city. As a result, buyers looking for a home in the Greater Victoria Area are beginning to look further afield.  Read the rest of the article here. 

We’ve rounded up homes for sale in each of these Where to Buy neighbourhoods to make it easy for you.

The top 5 Victoria neighbourhoods for buyers, according to MoneySense are:

  1. Sidney South-East, Sidney

  2. Saxe Point, Esquimalt

  3. Sidney North-East, Sidney

  4. Estevan, Oak Bay

  5. Uplands, Oak Bay

To view all active listings currently for sale in one of these areas simply click the neighbourhood links above or call our head office at 1-877-278-3888 to be matched to an expert real estate agent in your area.

Top 15 South Fraser River neighbourhoods to buy real estate from MoneySense’s Where to Buy report

Top 15 South Fraser River neighbourhoods to buy real estate from MoneySense’s Where to Buy report

Million-dollar communities have more to offer than just price appreciation.

moneysensefraserIn April MoneySense.ca produced their annual list of Where to Buy South of the Fraser River neighbourhoods.  We’ve rounded up homes for sale in each of these Where to Buy neighbourhoods to make it easy for you to find your next home.

The top 15 South Fraser neighbourhoods for Buyers, according to MoneySense are:

  1. Brookswood, Langley

  2. Walnut Grove, Langley

  3. Aldergrove, Langley

  4. Guildford, Surrey

  5. Fort Langley, Langley

  6. Langley City, Langley

  7. Willoughby Heights, Langley

  8. Cloverdale, Surrey

  9. Fleetwood Tynehead, Surrey

  10. West Newton, Surrey

  11. Murrayville, Langley

  12. North Surrey, Surrey

  13. East Newton, Surrey

  14. South Surrey White Rock, Surrey

To view all active listings currently for sale in one of these areas simply click the neighbourhood links above or call our head office at 1-877-278-3888 to be matched to an expert real estate agent in the area of your choosing.

Read the rest of the MoneySense article here. 

Real Estate Investment Story | Backyard Vineyards

Real Estate Investment Story | Backyard Vineyards

Meet Michelle Yang, co-owner at Backyard Vineyards in Langley B.C.  Michelle shares her story as a new partner in the winery, learning the wine business, and how her REALTOR® was able to guide her through the process.

To meet a professional realtor in your area visit macrealty.com

 

About Backyard Vineyard:

With a name as true as its location, Backyard Vineyards evokes neighbourhood comforts and a welcoming environment. Top this off with their exceptional wines and well-crafted tasting room for a must-see the next time you take a jaunt through Langley. Backyard Vineyard’s effort of using 100% BC grapes allows them to take their name to heart of loving the landscape of the region and province. Focusing on quality helps their winemaker James Cambridge and the owners express the intricacies of the varietals they carry, as well as the ability to experiment to find their award-winning portfolio.

Visiting this vineyard is a treat, from their large inviting tasting room to their outdoor picnic area there is plenty of space to enjoy a taste and tour. With some grapes grown at this vineyard and others sourced from the Fraser Valley and Okanagan, there is something to please all palates.

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Backyard Vineyards – 3033 – 232nd Street, Langley, BC